A lot has been said about reduction of CO2-emissions the past decades. Little has been done in effect.
There is strong scientific evidence that continued CO2-emissions at current levels -or even increased emissions- might harm global climate.
In my opinion the discussion has been far too narrow-minded.
We are talking about depletion of resources with applications that might be crucial for future technology.
We are talking about introducing large amounts of a biologically active substance into an evolutionary balanced system of co-existing species that took thousands to millions of years to develop.
Apart from climatological concerns, I see many compelling reasons to reduce the use of fossil fuels ASAP!
Already now we can see that carbon-technology has an enormous potential as future building material. Houses, offices, roads, bridges, cars, trains, planes etc etc. can be manufactured from carbon-based technology. Such building materials could easily become several orders of magnitude stronger and lighter than currently used materials. Just think what this could mean for areas with high probability of severe earthquakes!
But if we are to base our future infrastructure on carbon-technology, we better make sure we have sufficiently large reserves of cheap coal.
Our current use of coal is irresponsible and short-sighted.
Another argument is food-production. If we are to limit the detrimental effects of life-stock on our global climate, we better find new ways to produce proteins. Oil and maybe also gas could be used by bacteria or algea to do exactly this job!
Burning such resources is madness!
We often hear the argument that increased CO2-levels are good for argiculture.
Yes, but those increased levels are equally good for virusses, bacteria, algea, insects etc.
We risk giving evolution a vitamine shot that will harm us in the worst possible way. Just think of all the new pandemics that can break out. By raising CO2-levels, you raise biological activity, so you raise the rate of mutations. This is seriously bad news!
Another point is, that climate science is still in its infancy. We just don’t know enough to be 100% sure what the result will be of any given change.
We might need to emit huge amounts of CO2 or soot in the atmosfere one day in the future to stabilize global climate. If we burn up most of it now, we deprive future generations of access to a resource that might be very hard to replace.
I really do hope that Copenhagen will be a break-through, but I doubt it. Humanity has never shown signs of foresight, unless confronted with an immediate crisis.
I am very happy not to have produced children. I foresee that current stupidity will have serious negative effects for future generations.